NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray March 2020: BFI's new transfer is from the same 2016 restored 4K Sony source (starting with that text below) and the image has very few differences with the US 1080P but with the higher bitrate may be marginally improved in-motion. This is also the original version.

BFI go liner PCM (24-bit) with the audio and the score by Franco Mannino (Visconti's L'innocente and Riccardo Freda's Murder Obsession) still sounds fairly tight and clean in the uncompressed. BFI add optional English subtitles (see sample below) to their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray disc.

Extras is where the BFI augment their new Blu-ray release the most by including 2 commentaries. They also have Twilight Time's previous commentary with Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo, and Nick Redman (R.I.P. Nick) but add a second with DoP Oswald Morris, continuity gal Angela Allen and Houston's personal assistant Jeanie Sims. It's not a formal commentary as it has significant gaps but the information is good. Morris may be reading at times but Jeanie Sims has some great anecdotes although she is sometimes hard to make out (age or accent). I enjoyed it as these three who worked on the film sit together and share memories. BFI add a 20-minute Atomic Achievement public information film from 1956 discussing the importance of uranium imports. By the Fireside is a short 1945 "Maypole Tea" advert, there is a lengthy stills gallery and the same 23-minute Alexander Cockburn - Beat the Devil short film found on the Twilight Time. There is a second disc DVD included and for first pressing consumers a fully illustrated booklet featuring new writing on the film and full film credits.

So, the BFI nudge ahead with a slightly superior video transfer and a second, somewhat sporadic, commentary plus the booklet and short films.  

Fans of Beat the Devil will be very pleased - this oddball standout in Bogart and Huston's careers  - a stacked  4K-restored Blu-ray edition for Region 'B'-locked audiences. Strongly recommended!

***

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region 'A' - Blu-ray January 19': Firstly, this Twilight Time Blu-ray is Region 'A'- locked (notable as they almost always Region FREE.). The Twilight Time is using a source that is "Restored in 4K by Sony Pictures Entertainment in partnership with The Film Foundation. Additional funding provided by RT Features and the Franco-American Cultural Fund, a unique partnership between the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Societe des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique (SACEM), and the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW). Restored from the 35mm Original Camera Negative and 35mm Fine Grain Master Positive. Inspection, repair and 4K scanning by Cineric, Inc. Audio restoration by Deluxe Media Audio Services. Digital image restoration by L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna. Conforming, additional image restoration, DCP and color grading by Deluxe Culver City. Colorist Sheri Eisenberg. "

It's obvious that this one is the vastly superior HD transfer (restored in 2016 by Sony in 4K) - improving upon every facet of the Film Detective version. The Twilight Time is cleaner (less damage and artifacts), shows more information in the frame, is sharper, better contrast, superior grain texture support - and it looks wonderful in-motion. It is authentically darker - and is heads-and-tails above the softer, damaged Film Detective edition.

NOTE: This is the original version (hence 3 minutes longer running time) not the one with narration (that most have seen) - present on the Film Detective.  

The audio is also a leap forward with a 24-bit lossless transfer. The score by Franco Mannino (Visconti's L'innocente and Riccardo Freda's Murder Obsession) is sparsely used but sounds richer and deeper via the Twilight Time. It also offers optional English (SDH) subtitles and their Blu-ray disc, as already mentioned, is Region 'A'-locked.

We get another excellent audio commentary with Film Historians Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo, and Nick Redman (R.I.P. Nick) and they explore the diverse opinions on Beat the Devil - and why - as well as comparisons of the script to the original book, a young Capote writing the screenplay - plus much more. It is professional and expands appreciation for the production with all going on behind the camera and pre-production. There is also the 23-minute Alexander Cockburn Beat the Devil - where the son of the author Claud Cockburn (which was based on the novel "Beat the Devil" by James Helvick), gives his recollections on Huston reading it and embracing the project, his father cited as a Communist and other interesting details regarding Capote. There is also an original theatrical trailer and the package has some liner notes with photos and an essay by Julie Kirgo.

ADDITION: Film Detective - Region FREE - Blu-ray February 16': Encouraged by Film Detective's Blu-ray of The Bat, and less-so with their A Bucket of Blood, I though I'd indulge further. Beat the Devil is public domain - kind of a throw-away film that has garnered some cult status nostalgia appeal in recent years. The DVDs I've seen are hideous and this is another, interlaced, VHS-sourced, example. Unwatchable. The Blu-ray is imperfect but a breath of fresh air by comparison. Detail significantly tightens, and contrast becomes layered, brighter visuals but there is still some minor damage and artifacts but the bitrate is high. Bottom line is that it is watchable, 1080P and offers optional subtitles.

Only a trailer as an extra - but, regardless - those keen to see the film - this Blu-ray seems the best of a very bad bunch (of SDs). The BD can be had for under $10... at that price it's hard not to recommend a small place in the digital library. 

Gary W. Tooze